‘GotG 3’: Who Is Martinex? Powers & Origins Explained

Guardians of the Galaxy fans were hyped for GotG 3, offering a whirlwind of adventure and excitement for anticipating viewers. This recent MCU release also featured a mysterious figure, and many fans are eager to find out who Martinex is within the world of Marvel characters.

Martinex T’Naga is a Pluvian scientist and First Officer, genetically enhanced with silicon-isotope crystals. He is the sole surviving Pluvian after his home planet was attacked by the Badoon, and he would later form the first Guardians crew and become an elite member of the Ravagers before taking the role of Stakar Ogord’s First Mate.

Although Martinex hasn’t gotten much on-screen time as of yet, there’s plenty for fans to unpack regarding his background and history. Stick around to find out everything there is to know about this complex crystalline character, including Martinex’s origins, powers, abilities, and more.

Who is Martinex?

Martinex, formally known as “Martinex T’Naga,” is the First Officer of the Stakar Ravager Clan as well as a member of Stakar Ogord’s Team and the United Ravagers. The character made his debut in 1969, being featured in Marvel Super-Heroes #18.

He made an appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, although he was not the focal point by any means. Following along the same storyline, he was once again featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which recently began hitting screens worldwide.

Species, background & origins

Martinex belongs to a race of aliens known as the Pluvians, who genetically modified and engineered humans. They were designed to colonize Pluto far into the future an alternate timeline (Earth-691 in the comics or Earth-199999 in MCU releases).

He was born on Pluto during the 31st century, although it’s believed that Martinex has ancestry in Africa. During this time, Martinex was a scientist in Pluto’s colony, and his body was intentionally covered in small silicon-isotope crystal-like structures.

This choice was based on the survival requirements of Pluto, as these crystal structures would allow Martinex to withstand extreme temperatures. Much like many of the other species within the Marvel universe, Martinex lost his home and family after the Badoon, a vicious reptilian alien species attacked the Pluvians.

He was the only survivor of his race, evading the attack with the help of new comrades Vance Astro, Charlie-27, and Yondu Udonta. Martinex and these new comrades would form the first Guardians of the Galaxy team, which would later expand to include others. For more information on Martinex, check out the video below by Average Wil.

Martinex became one of the Ravagers’ elite members, including Stakar Ogord, Yondu Udonta, Charlie-27, Aleta Ogord, Mainframe, and Krugarr. The Ravagers disbanded sometime later, with Yondu being exiled for his crimes, although Martinex remained Stakar Ogord’s First Mate without seeing any of his former teammates again for many years.

Since this took place on an alternate timeline and far into the future, this Guardians team was not directly tied to the Avengers. However, Martinex has fought alongside some infamous heroes, including Thor, Captain America, and many of the Avengers.

Powers & abilities

Martinex has an incredibly long lifespan – which is what the Pluvians were known for. In addition to being able to withstand extreme temperatures, Martinex also flaunts additional powers and abilities that include super strength and durability.

Although these crystals are far more durable than carbon matter, it does result in Martinex taking much longer to heal from injuries. Martinex is also a Master Thief and can use thermogenesis in order to blast rays of extreme heat or cold from his hands, which proves useful in a variety of situations.

Being a wise and intelligent scientist, as well as a native of the 31st century, Martinex boasts a wealth of knowledge that’s beyond comprehension for many other Marvel characters. His insight, skills, and expertise make him an invaluable ally.

Martinex in GotG 3

Martinex does not get much of the spotlight in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but fans do get more insight into his story and journey as a character (spoilers alert for those who have not watched GotG 3 yet). He is reunited with Yondu Udonta, after which they get into a heated argument regarding the reason Yondu was exiled.

Despite the complexity of the team’s relationships and history, Martinex did end up attending Yondu’s funeral after he passed away, and he was reunited with his former Ravagers crew as a result. This was only due to Rocket revealing that Yondu had sacrificed his life in order to save Star-Lord and the galaxy as a whole.

Who plays Martinex in GotG 3?

This character flaunted one of the many impressive cameos featured in GotG 3, to the point where the face behind the figure was nearly indistinguishable. The role of Martinex was played by Michael Owen Rosenbaum, detailed in the video below by Red Carpet News TV.

Rosenbaum embodied this figure in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. He was extremely excited, sharing the following in an interview with My 105.3 WJLT:

“It was a treat. Everyone on the ‘Guardians’ set was so awesome to work with. I wish I had got to, you know, be a bigger part of that, but just to be a part of it was awesome.”

My 105.3

Interestingly enough, Michael Rosenbaum actually auditioned for the role of Star-Lord, which would later be taken on by Chris Pratt. He is one of the few actors who have taken roles in both Marvel Studios and DC Entertainment productions, whether it be on-screen or through voice-acting.

That’s everything there is to know about Martinex in Marvel comics and in GotG 3 so far. Martinex has an already interesting and lengthy track record, alongside a list of powerful allies and an impressive set of skills, but fans definitely have a lot more to learn about this figure in future releases.

What do you think about Martinex? Let us know in the comments below!

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